June 5, the hills to the S.E. were covered with snow, and the rain continued.  They proceeded on in a course N. 20 degrees W. near the river several miles, till at the distance of eleven miles they reached a ridge, from the top of which on the north side they could plainly discern a mountain to the S. and W. at a great distance covered with snow; a high ridge projecting from the mountains to the southeast approaches the river on the southeast side, forming some cliffs of dark hard stone.  They also saw that the river ran for a great distance west of south, with a rapid current, from which as well as its continuing of the same width and depth, captain Clarke thought it useless to advance any further, and therefore returned across the level plain in a direction north 30 degrees east, and reached at the distance of twenty miles the little river which is already mentioned as falling into the north fork, and to which they gave the name of Tansy river, from the great quantity of that herb growing on its banks.  Here they dined, and then proceeded on a few miles by a place where the Tansy breaks through a high ridge on its north side and encamped.

The next day, 6th, the weather was cold, raw and cloudy, with a high northeast wind.  They set out early, down the Tansy, whose low grounds resemble precisely, except as to extent, those of the Missouri before it branches, containing a great proportion of a species of cottonwood, with a leaf like that of the wild cherry.  After halting at twelve o’clock for dinner, they ascended the plain, and at five o’clock reached the camp through the rain, which had fallen without intermission since noon.  During his absence the party had been occupied in dressing skins, and being able to rest themselves were nearly freed from their lameness and swollen feet.  All this night and the whole of the following day, 7th, it rained, the wind being from the southwest off the mountains:  yet the rivers are falling, and the thermometer 40 degrees above 0.  The rain continued till the next day, 8th, at ten o’clock, when it cleared off, and the weather became fine, the wind high from the southwest.  The rivers at the point have now fallen six inches since our arrival, and this morning the water of the south fork became of a reddish brown colour, while the north branch continued of its usual whitish appearance.  The mountains to the south are covered with snow.

Sunday, 9th.  We now consulted upon the course to be pursued.  On comparing our observations, we were more than ever convinced of what we already suspected, that Mr. Arrowsmith is incorrect in laying down in the chain of Rocky mountains one remarkable mountain called the Tooth, nearly as far south as 45 degrees, and said to be so marked from the discoveries of Mr. Fidler.  We are now within one hundred miles of the Rocky* mountains and in the latitude of 47 degrees 24’ 12” 8, and therefore it is highly improbable that the Missouri should make such a bend to the south before it reaches the Rocky mountains,